Two Gentleman and a Lady – Winter 1838

Two gentlemen and a lady in a French riding habit – Winter 1838

Two gentlemen and a lady take a stroll in the country. The man on the left wears a fitted frock coat which buttons to the waist. It has notched lapels and three buttons on its snugly fitted sleeves at the cuffs. He wears long blue trousers strapped under his black heeled boots He has a black silk cravat, and he carries a black top hat and walking stick in his yellow gloved hands. His hair is smoothed down from a center part, with curls at the sides, and he wears a mustache. In the center, a man with the same hairstyle strands with a woman.

He has a mustache, long sideburns, and chin whiskers. His black cutaway tailcoat has a shawl collar with lapels that are notched in an “M”. He wears a white waistcoat with a ruffled shirt and a black silk cravat. His long gray trousers are strapped beneath his black boots. The trousers are have a stripe down the sides. He wears silver spurs. He wears yellow gloves, a black top hat, and carries a walking stick. Holding his arm is a woman in a brown riding habit, styled in a masculine look. The snugly fitted bodice fastens at the front with military style frogs and buttons. Her collar is black velvet.

She has a high white ruffled collar and a deep green cravat. The sleeves are full at the shoulder, and taper to a snug fit at the wrist, with black velvet cuffs, and narrow white ruffles. The full skirt of her habit is tucked up for walking, revealing a glimpse of lace-edged pantaloons and black boots. Her hat is black with a slightly tapered crown and a wide brim, in the style of a man’s top hat, but trimmed with a large white feather plume. She carries a riding crop. Behind the trio is a wooden fence rail, green grass, and a row of winter bare trees.

Credit: The Claremont Colleges